The legislation sponsored by State Government Committee Chairman Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, would define marriage as "the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Opponents of the legislation say the bill would not foreclose discussions of civil unions and perhaps even spell the end of domestic partnership benefits provided in school districts and municipalities across the state.

In an e-mail sent to reporters yesterday, Rep. Babette Josephs of Philadelphia, the committee's ranking Democrat, called on Metcalfe to cancel this morning's vote.

"Instead of finding ways to create jobs and promote a healthier, more prosperous Commonwealth, Harrisburg Republicans have started a war on women’s health and now they’re attacking committed LGBT couples and families all over the country," Josephs wrote. "This bill makes Pennsylvania less competitive as we try to attract new businesses, tourists and residents, but worse than that, it writes discrimination into our state constitution. It’s shameful and it has to be stopped.”

Eight states, most recently Washington and Maryland, have legalized same-sex unions. The laws in Washington and Maryland have yet to take effect, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Thirty-eight states, including Pennsylvania, which has a so-called "Defense of Marriage" statute on its books, have laws or constitutional provisions banning same-sex unions.

Four states allow civil unions while three more have domestic partnership laws granting nearly all state-level spousal rights to people in those relationships, the NCSL data indicated.

House To Vote Voter ID Bill Today. The state House is expected to give final approval today to legislation requiring state residents to show photo identification every time they vote, clearing the way for the bill to head to Gov. Tom Corbett’s desk. The chamber began debate last night, but broke off after about an hour or so, with majority Republicans claiming that a rule requiring a 24-hour waiting period to vet amendments barred them from acting further. We're not sure how the rule pertains since the amendment was made in the Senate -- not in the House -- and the bill was coming over on concurrence. A Republican spokesman denied that a House GOP fund-raiser scheduled for 6 p.m. last night had anything to do with the decision.

Gov. Tom Corbett Challenged His Critics ... ... to find the money to restore the millions of dollars in reductions planned for the state’s public universities and community colleges. “Would you have me take it from the social services? Would you have me take it from law enforcement, from the functions of government?” the Republican asked as he left the inaugural meeting of a new administration task force on post-secondary education. Judging by the online comments, Morning Call readers have plenty of suggestions for the administration.

A Former Staffer ... ... to state Sen. Jane Orie testified in Allegheny Court yesterday that she objected to doing political work on state time, the Tribune-Review reports this morning. The suburban Pittsburgh lawmaker and her sister, Janine Orie, face charges they illegally used taxpayer money for political purposes.

What Goes On. The House comes in at 11 a.m. to continue work on the Voter ID bill. At 9:30 a.m., Rep. Stan Saylor, R-York, holds a newser in the Media Center on natural-gas vehicles. And at 10:30 a.m., also in the Media Center, members of the Philly delegation and Mayor Mike Nutter talk about the state budget's impact on the City of Brotherly Love.